The Portland daily press., 1887-02-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Much POSTPONED Beck Attorney
Bill at Last Passed.
The Capital City Goes Wild over
Opera.
The sum Of 81, ,45o, 900 Recon-
mended for the New Cruisers.


WASHINGTON, Feb. A.
The Senate today finally succeeded in clear.
ing its calendar Of the much postponed Beck
attorney bill, which has been a kind Of bug.
bear since last August. Nearly the whole
day was devoted to 1t, amendment after
amendment being presented, and roll call
following roll call in weary monotony. The
bill as finally passed bore little resemblance
to the original bill introduced by Senator
Beck last summer, and he himself said he
should not have voted for 1t as amended but
for the hope that the House would amend it
so that 1t would amount to something.
The Senate also passed today the bill to
repay TO States and the District of Columbia
the amount paid by them under the diiect
tax Of 1861. 1t is the same bill which was
reported by the finance committee Monday,
and mentioned in the PRESS at the time
Maine will receive by it S420 ,S26. There Is
| considered to be hardly any doubt Of its
passage by the House. In the Senate there
was but one vote in opposition to 1t, that Of
Mr.. Van Wyck of Nebraska.
Wild over the Opera.
Washington this week has ''gone wild
over the opera" The National Opera Com
pany has presented during the week some Of
the finest Of the grand operas to audiences
which have filed the vast auditorium Of the
largest and finest theatre in the city from pit
to roof. On Monday night Meyerbeer's
famous "Huguenots" was given, with
Pauline L'Allemand, Bertha Pierson, Jesse
Bartlett Davis, Myron Whitney, William
Candidus and William Ludwig in the cast
The costuming of this opera was exceedingly
rich and elegant. and the stage setting very
fine.
On Tuesday Gounod's immortal Faust was
given. with Charles Basset in the title role;
Emma Juch, well and favorably known to
Maine audiences, as Marguerite, and VIII
liam Ludwig as Mephistopheles. The opera
was given in full and on a scale Of magnif-
cence rarely equalled on any stage. The
church scene, in which Mephistopheles ap-
pears to Marguerite as in a vision, was ex-
ceedingly striking and impressive.
Wednesday evening Verdi's Aida was
given, with Fursch-Madi, Van Zauten,
Whitney and Candidus as principals.
Thursday Wagner's "Flying Dutchman"
sailed upon the stage, in the person Of VIII
liam Ludwig, Emma Juch being Lenta, and
Whitney her father. The scenic effects in
the storm scene on the coast of Norway, and
the sailing Of the two ships across the scene
was very fine.
Tonight the greatest of all Wagner's operas
Lohengrin, was presented, with Candidus
as Lohengrin, Bertha Pierson as Elsa, Van
Zauten as Ortrud, and Ludwig as Frederick.
Tomorrow afternoon Gluck's "Orpheus
nd Eurxydfno xxffI, ox,H
and Laura Moore in the cast, win be given,
and in the evening the second act of
''Lakme' will be presented, followed by
grand ballet by Leo Delibes entitled Cop
pelia.
The audiences through the week have
been very large and have represented the
'cream of society" Full dress was the gem
eral custom and many elegant toilets were
displayed. The President had box for the
week, although he attended but one or two
performances himself. Something Of the
magnitude Of the company may be under
stood from the fact that the weekly expenses
are about S1o,OOv. Certainty notning mas
ever been given here on such magnificent
scale. Aside from this, the week has not
been a very brilliant one socially. The third
of the Army and Navy Germans ON Monday
night is reported to have been the most en-
joysbie one of the series.
Bowdoin Alumni Meet
On Tuesday evening the Bowdoin Alumni
held their annual dinner, at which Senator
Frye was one Of the chief speakers. These
were the only events of prominence.
Postmaster Appointed.
w. A. Francis was today appointed post
master at East Livermore Mills, Me-, vice
Ellen NJ. Folsom, removed.
Talk of Impeaching Secretary Man
ming.
Secretary Manning's letter presented to
lhe House last Wednesday in reply to Will
kins' resolution, calling for information as
to whether small United States notes had
been replaced with those Of larger denomin-
Der Of Representatives, who are regarded as
''silver mem; as tending toward soft
money policy. Some Of them, after subject
ing the document to careful scrutiny, de-
clare that aside from the notable disrespect-
full tone, the paper shows clearly that
Secretary Manning has violated the law re-
gulating the issue Of United States notes,
and has also, as it Is alleged, failed TO make
purchases of silver bullion every month to
the full amount required by the Bland act.
ter have been held by these members, and 1t
is learned that some Of the most ultra silver
men have more than limited at an intention
toformulate charges 0fimpeachment against
the Secretary Of the Treasury.
Our Navy.
One Of the most called-upon men in Wash
ington is Charles III. Cramp, the Philadelphia
shipbuilder. Senators and Representatives
by the half dozen talk over with him the
Situation Of the navy and the facilities for
getting 20 new war ships, should they be de-
sired. 1.-THE demand for such an increase
could be promptly met" said he. Ihere
are certain parts of machinery which our
plant cannst produce. but in other respects
the iron shipbuilding facilities Of the country
could be rapidly extended. Our swn estab-
lishment gets its 81 foot steel shafts for
cruiser No. 3 from Whitw0rth in England; I;
the Union Works Of San Francisco, | under.
stand, get theirs from krupp. Inquiry at
the department shows that the stimulation
of iron and steel industries, on account Of
the demand for material for ships already
contracted for, has already led to an increase
Of the plantat Bethlehem and OF the Car
negies at Pittsburg. which will require
81 100000 outlay at each place.
Gossip About Secretary Manning.
Treasurer Jordan admitted today that Sec
retary Manning Is to be the president and
that he is to be vice president Of the Western
| National bank Of the city Of New York,
designations of both officials are In the hands
Of the President and will be accepted in due
| time.
Maine People at the Capital.
An excursion party en- route to California,
| and comprising 40 New England people,
reached Washington today and called at the
| White House. In the party were Mr.. and
| Mrs. Poland and Mrs. Jurgne of Bangor, Mr.,
Mrs. and Miss Dyer Of Foxcroft Mr.. Frisbie
| Of Houton, and w. II. Gray and b. Il. VIII
| liams of Portland.
A Bill for a Sweeping Investigation.
The Senate committee on judiciary has
changed the House Joint resolution for an in
vestigation of the Pacific railroad accounts
to the form of bill, and has agreed to report
it, 1t provides for a sweeping investigation.
The New Cruisers.
The naval committee Of the House today
accepted without amendment the bill pre-
pared by the subcommittee appropriating
| S2,450,0O0 to begin the construction OF the
N.N